Results 4,661-4,680 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: This came up at the select committee, having previously been brought to my attention. We have made a commitment to deal with the matter by way of a statutory instrument. We are dealing with it straight away on the passage of the Finance Bill. What was happening was that 51% of the users of the facility were being asked to provide their private medical certificates, which requirement we...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: It will be done within weeks.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: The reduced 9% VAT rate is reviewed annually in the context of the budget, including the economic costs and benefits and the additional revenue that could be raised by bringing the rate back to 13.5%. Revenue's most recent estimate is that reverting to the 13.5% rate would bring in an additional €491 million. A 1% increase would yield €109 million. The estimated cost to the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I reject what the Senator said about labour standards. She is tarnishing all employers in the sector-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: ------on the issue of labour standards. There are the best of employers in the sector as well as some bad employers. There are Government agencies who deal with bad employers.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: The joint labour committees, JLCs, can deal with such issues. If people do not pay the correct rates, there is a structure in place to ensure they are made to do so. I have no time for anybody who does not pay the correct rate.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: If one goes back several years, since the real damage impacted upon the finances of the State, we have been doing that. Some 400,000 people out of 2 million people pay a zero rate of universal social charge. A total of 36 % of the workforce pays no income tax. These figures are rarely quoted. I absolutely agree that within those figures there are part-time workers for whom the system...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: The Senator is focusing on people on higher pay who take the opportunity to provide a good pension for their retirement. However, they represent a small percentage of people in the scheme of things. In this State, 50% of people have no pension, which is the biggest issue. They have nothing coming.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: If we change this, that 50% figure would be even greater, which would be of huge concern to me. I have a four-page response, but-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank everybody. This is my fourth time dealing with the Bill so I ask Senators not to repeat contributions on Report Stage. We have left out quite a few areas, which I am happy to go through on Report Stage. If it is otherwise, we will have the same conversation we have already had. That is what happened in the Dáil. I do not see the purpose of going through some of these matters...

Paradise Papers: Statements (8 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Chairman. The Paradise Papers is the name given to a collection of documents published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and was reported to media outlets worldwide in recent weeks. Coverage of the Paradise Papers has included coverage of the tax affairs of certain individuals and companies. I do not propose to comment on any individual taxpayer or...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: Section 85 is intended to provide for a detailed exploration of the key issues in the implementation of a vacant property tax to be reported on within nine months of the passing of the Finance Bill. This period should allow sufficient time to collect and analyse the relevant information. Importantly, the report should be completed in time for consideration in advance of budget 2019. The...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: The programme for a partnership Government contains a commitment to develop the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights. It also includes a commitment to ensure the institutional arrangements are in place to support equality and gender proofing in key Departments and the independent fiscal and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: Yes, it does. The rebate of 4% applies if the property lies within a curtilage of one acre.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: The sustainable development goals were adopted in 2015 by 193 UN members, including Ireland, and consist of 17 high-level goals and 196 targets. While not legally binding, both developed and developing countries are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for achieving the goals by 2030. A senior officials group led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I will just make a few observations before reading the departmental note. The figure that the Senator put out there of €70 million cannot be taken in isolation. The old age pension payment is the biggest payment in the State and amounts to €7 billion. It is €7 billion out of the €20 billion social protection pot. It is not just a question of putting €70...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I have been working on this since 12 October, and we are nearly there. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe and I spent 19.5 hours on this section on Report Stage in the Lower House. This is the first balanced budget in a decade. That is quite an achievement considering the era we have come through, which has been difficult and pretty awful for many. People get going and kept working; they kept...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: We are on Committee Stage.

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: He just answered that.

Appropriation Bill 2017: Order for Second Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Michael D'Arcy: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."